Surrounded by Aravali ranges, the city of Ajmer is most famous for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah of saint Muin-ud-din Chishti. Located at a distance of 130 km from Jaipur and 14 kms from Pushkar in Rajasthan, the city is firmly bound by its traditions and culture. Ajmer has a unique charm which lies in the ethos and craftsmanship practised over centuries.

Visit Ajmer to witness the exquisite Mughal architecture set in an aura of spirituality. The city is also a renowned religious spot for Jains because of Golden Jain Temple. During the festival of Urs, commemorating the death anniversary of Saint Moinuddin Chishti, believers from across the globe throng the city. A lot of travellers visiting Pushkar stop by Ajmer and make a day trip. Ajmer has also been selected as one of the heritage cities for the HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) scheme of the Government of India.

Places to Visit

Ajmer Sharif

Ajmer Sharif Dargah, also known as Ajmer Dargah, is the tomb of Moinuddin Chishti is one of the holiest places of worship in India not only for the Muslims but followers of every faith. Being the final resting place of the Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, it has had an enormous contribution in spreading the ethical and spiritual values of Islam amongst masses.

Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti was a great Sufi Saint and dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The shrine is visited by millions of people every year, as it is considered very sacred by people of all the religions. Ajmer Sharif was built by the Mughal Emperor Humayun, hence justifying the rich Mughal Architecture. The Dargah has various constituents like tombs, courtyards and Daalaans. The major among these structures are- Nizam Gate, Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Aulia Masjid, Dargah Shrine, Mehfilkhana and about a dozen of other prominent establishments. 

One can spot two huge cauldrons in the inner courtyard of the shrine. These containers have a capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg and are used during special occasions to cook sweet delicacies like Kheer.

Ana Sagar Lake

The gorgeous Ana Sagar Lake is a magnificent artificial lake that is located in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan, India. This lake is best visited during the sunsets when the views are extraordinarily marvellous to look at. The sight of the lake from the nearby temple is particularly enchanting. Do not forget to take a camera to capture the fantastic and heavenly views that you behold here. However, the lake may dry up during the summers.

The Ana Sagar Lake is surrounded by Daulat Bagh Gardens, which is a splendid garden full of vast open spaces and lush greenery, and the Khobra Behroon temple- two popular attractions of Ajmer that tourists prefer to visit along with a day trip to the beautiful lake. The lake is only 13 kilometres away from the main city of Ajmer. An island can be spotted in the centre of the lake. Tourists love to indulge in boating or water scooter rides here. The lake is about 4.4 metres deep and spreads over an area of 12 kilometres.

Adhai Din Ka Jhopra

Adhai Din ka Jhopara is a Masjid built by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak, first Sultan of Delhi in AD 1199. Rumor has it that this Indo-Islamic architectural site was constructed in two and a half days and that’s where it gets its name. Adhai Din ka Jhopra is a relic of an old mosque which was constructed with remains of Hindu and Jain temples. Though most of the ancient temple is in ruins today, the area of the mosque is still used as a place of worship. Complete with arched screens, ruined minarets and distinct beautiful pillars it is an amazing place to visit.

Akbar’s Palace & Museum

Akbar’s palace, constructed in 1570AD as the place where he and his troops stayed in Ajmer whenever he visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. It is well known for the museum which portrays the age-old military weapons and exquisite sculptures, paintings and other artefacts of the Mughal era. The museum showcases various aspects of the Rajput and Mughal style of living and fighting. The large black marble statue of Goddess Kali situated in the palace is quite famous. 

Nareli Jain Temple

Nareli Jain Temple, located about 7 km away from Ajmer, is a beautiful marble temple with angular and strikingly appealing designs. The temple is situated on the ranges of Aravali Mountains. The location makes the views from the temple more scenic. This Temple is a striking facade mixing traditional and contemporary architectural styles with 24 miniature temples (Choubisi) lined up on the hill above. Nareli Jain temple was built by the members of the RK Marbles family.

Clock Tower

The Clock Tower at Ajmer was constructed in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee which is why it is also known as Victoria Jubilee Clock Tower. This landmark in the city, situated opposite to the Ajmer Railway Station, is built in the Indo-Islamic style.

Durga Bagh Gardens

Durga Bagh is a charming garden on the banks of the majestic Ana Sagar Lake. The garden was built by Maharaja Shiv Dan in 1868 AD. The Marble pavilions (Baradari) built in the premises of the Daulat Bagh are the main attraction apart from the greenery and numerous trees and flowering plants. The pavilions were built by Emperor Shah Jahan. This place is an ideal picnic spot.

Kishangarh City

Known as the marble city of India, Kishangarh city is a tourist spot in itself. Kishangarh is 30 km from Ajmer and 90 km from Jaipur. The city is famous for its art and culture, Bani Thani style of painting and the Kishangarh Fort. It is the only place in the world with a temple of nine planets. Khoda Ganesh Ji temple, Kishangarh Fort, Phool Mahal Palace, and Gondulav Lake are some of the major attractions of the city.

Soniji Ki Nasiyan

Ajmer Jain Temple or Soniji Ki Nasiyan is a Digambar Jain temple dedicated to Lord Rishabhdev (Agnidev), first of the 24 Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple is made of red sandstone which is why it is also called the Red Temple. The main attraction of the temple is the main chamber, known as the Swarna Nagari “City of Gold”, which has several gold-plated wooden figures, depicting several figures in Jainism.

The city of Ayodhya has been carved out of wood and plated with 1000 kg of gold in the main chamber. The intricacy is remarkable. Only Jains are allowed in the main temple or the Lal Mandir/Red Temple and carry out their rituals.

Abdulla Khan’s Tomb

Abdulla Khan’s Tomb is a splendid memoir was constructed by the son of Abdulla Khan, Hussain Ali Khan, who was the minister of king Farrukhsiyar. This simple yet elegant tomb is one of the major attractions of Ajmer due to its historic importance and architectural beauty.

The tomb has columns with ornamental arches built of white marble. Opposite to this is the tomb of Abdulla Khan’s wife. The monument was built during the late Mughal period. The place is quite peaceful.

Must Try Food in Ajmer

1. Rasoi The Train Restaurant

2. Karim’s Restaurant

3. Mango Curry Restaurant

4. Shankar Chaat

5. Maharajas Restaurant

6. Kesar

7. Royal Spice Restaurant

8. 7 Spices

9. Khokha The Lounge

10. Silver Leaf Restaurant

How To Get Here

Ajmer is easily accessed through road, rail, and flight. The Sanganer Airport in Jaipur is the closest airport which connects you to this city. It is 132 km from Jaipur hence it is best to club these two places together during a vacation. The Ajmer Junction is well connected and is on the main railway line. It is well connected to all major cities by train. Bus travel shouldn’t be any problem either.

By Air

The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport, around 132 km away from Ajmer, after which you can commute from Jaipur to Ajmer via rail/road. 

Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport (JAI) – 123 kms from Ajmer 

By Road

Ajmer is one of the major cities of the state of Rajasthan. The roads are excellently connected to national highways. Buses and taxis along with autos are frequent across the city.

By Train

The Ajmer Railway Station is a major station of Indian railways and is easily accessible. All the major trains have their stoppages here. Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi is one of the daily superfast trains that come here from Delhi.